Lesotho

1.8 million hectares hectares

Land rehabilition,rangelands and wetlands restoration,removal of invasive species in their rangelands, construction of infiltration pits,checkdams , diversion furrows,afforestration to curb soil erosion.These interventions are done in Lesotho in Mafeteng district at Hathoahlane,Bolikela,Hakhoro and haramarothole solar plant where land degradation is very severe. Key challenges include key challenges include the district itself is highly desertificated due to poor land management and natural hazards as a result of climate change.

280 hectors hectares

St Charles Roman Catholic Church is currently planning to organize a Land Restoration initiative in Lesotho, Botha Bothe. For it to be a succes i want to engage young people and youth. St Charles Roman Catholic Church is also planning to form a Land Restoration Club which will specifically focus on Land Restoration Projects, Pollution, Soil Erosion and Land Degradation. As poverty escalates due to deteriorating global economies, this has led to significant harvesting of trees and forests for fire wood. Key challenges include key challenges include deforestation and soil erosion are the most significant challenges in st charles roman catholic church's organization.

4 hectares hectares

*Tree Planting*: Participate in local tree-planting events or plant trees in their community. *Community Gardening*: Join or start a community garden to promote sustainable land use. *Reduce Waste*: Implement sustainable practices, such as reducing, reusing, and recycling waste. *Support Local Farmers*: Buy produce from local farmers who use sustainable practices. Community-Based Initiatives. *Organize a Clean-Up*: Coordinate a local clean-up event to remove trash and debris from public spaces. *Start a Restoration Project*: Collaborate with local organizations or community members to restore degraded land. *Educate Others*: Share knowledge about the importance of land restoration and sustainable practices. Supporting Organizations. *Donate to Land Restoration Organizations*: Support organizations working on land restoration projects. *Volunteer with Land Restoration Groups*: Join organizations or groups working on land restoration initiatives. *Spread Awarenes*: Share information about land restoration efforts and their impact on social media or through community events. Sustainable Practices. *Use Eco-Friendly Products*: Choose products with minimal environmental impact. *Conserve Water*: Implement water-saving practices to reduce their water footprint. *Support Sustainable Agriculture*: Promote and support sustainable agriculture practices in their community. *Soil Erosion*: Los of topsoil due to wind or water erosion. *Land Degradation*: Decline in land quality due to human activities or natural factors. *Deforestation*: Clearing of forests for agriculture, urbanization, or logging. *Climate Change*: Rising temperatures, changing precipitation patterns, and increased frequency of extreme weather events. *Land Tenure Issues*: Conflicts over land ownership, acces, and use rights. *Community Displacement*: Displacement of communities due to land acquisition, development projects, or environmental degradation. *Competing Land Uses*: Conflicts between different land uses, such as agriculture, conservation, and urban development. *Market Pressures*: Economic pressures to prioritize short-term gains over long-term sustainability.

Mazenod Community Council with World Vision Lesotho have established planting trees by involving students in the whole community Council with Chiefs and Councilors.This is done every 2months at one school.the organization involve atleast 200 students to plant trees around their schools where the organization has identified that the soil is not compatable for growing foods and other things.the trees are grown in order to retain the soil erosion which is caused by the terrain of the most parts of this area. This initiative is only feasible,when the schools are not on their examinations time or only when schools are open.

The church in Lesotho owns much of the land as it constitutes 80 percent of the population , as CCL the organization has land that was used to produce food for refugees and.

While Government of Lesotho's organization the Government of Lesotho is not a faith-based entity, Government of Lesotho is highly interested in collaborating with faith communities to advance land restoration efforts. Lesotho is actively implementing its Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) targets under the UNCCD, rehabilitating approximately 19,000 hectares annually acros degraded and eroded landscapes. These activities are carried out nationwide, with notable efforts in Mokhotlong, Qachas Nek, Thaba-Tseka, and the Letseng-la-Letsie Ramsar site, which holds ecological and cultural significance. Given the strong influence of faith institutions in Lesotho, there is a unique opportunity to integrate restoration initiatives within religious networks, particularly on church-owned lands or sacred sites. Government of Lesotho is eager to support and help initiate faith-led land restoration activities that align with national priorities and benefit from technical guidance, policy support, and monitoring frameworks already in place. This masterclas would allow me to develop a clearer strategy for engaging faith actors in ecosystem restoration and to promote partnerships between faith institutions and government-led restoration programmes. Government of Lesotho is especially interested in helping faith communities create action plans for degraded land recovery, enhance awarenes on soil and water conservation, and participate meaningfully in achieving both national and global restoration goals. This extensive degradation reduces soil fertility and threatens food security. Additionally, frequent fire occurrences disrupt ecosystems and degrade vegetation cover. A growing population intensifies pressure on land resources through increased cultivation and settlement expansion.

The organization leds the development of Lesothos Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) Target Setting Programme aligned with Agenda. This effort was undertaken in collaboration with key national stakeholders and aimed at identifying transformative land restoration measures for sustainable ecosystem resilience and climate adaptation. Estimates from the 2017/2018 LDN matrix include: Increasing Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) by 1% acros all land cover classes. Restoring 1,902 ha of marginal lands under conservation agriculture to boost SOC. Installing 300,000 infiltration pits on 30 ha (pits of 50cm 50cm with 1m spacing) to enhance water retention. Implementing brush packs and trash lines for erosion control on degraded slopes. Rehabilitating 135,600 ha of brushland to functional rangeland. Expanding agroforestry on 39,938.96 ha and afforestation on 21,386 ha to increase SOC and biodiversity. Establishing 150,000 ha of fruit trees and 32,328 ha of vines to support food security and livelihoods. Scaling up erosion control interventions acros 600,000 ha of vulnerable land. Although these initiatives were government-led, Government of Lesotho ministry of environment and forestry is now eager to integrate faith-based partnerships into future land restoration programmes. The organization sees tremendous opportunity in mobilising spiritual leaders and congregations to support behavioural change, tree planting, and land stewardship practices rooted in faith values. The Faith4Land Masterclass will strengthen Government of Lesotho ministry of environment and forestry's capacity to initiate such collaborations, bridging science, policy, and spirituality in restoring Lesothos landscapes. The steep and fragile topography of Lesotho further complicates implementation, requiring labor-intensive techniques and continuous maintenance. Climate variability, especially recurrent droughts and intense rainfall, accelerates land degradation and undermines restoration gains.